Experience 'An Ode to Sara' by Nomandla Vilakazi at Artscape's Humanity Festival

Grassy Park filmmaker Nomandla Vilakazi will have her film, An Ode to Sara, screened at the Artscape’s Humanity Festival on Saturday, August 23.

An Ode to Sara is written and directed by Ms Vilakazi and shares the story of Sarah Baartman, who was exhibited in Europe in the early 1800s under the name the Hottentot Venus.

Ms Vilakazi worked on this documentary as a thesis for the Master's of Documentary Arts course at the University of Cape Town. In her documentary, Ms Vilakazi shares the different names of Sarah Baartman, though she refers to her as “Sara” in the film.

Ms Vilakazi was originally born in KwaZulu-Natal and grew up in Johannesburg. In this documentary, there are narrations from Ms Vilakazi, Anneline Kotze, who is one of the curators of exhibitions at Iziko Museums, and Hassna Ait Taleb, who at the time of filming, was a Master's student in the African Feminist department.

The documentary also features dancing and movements of expressions from Ms Vilakazi, which shares the journey of Sarah Baartman.

Ms Vilakazi said this film aims to investigate all the monumental effort it took for individuals like Diana Ferrus to bring Sara back home. “Those bones returning should not be understood as a simple repatriation, but should be an indication to South Africans... Silence is not an option; if it were, then Sara would still be in France right now,” she said.

Ms Vilakazi says that Sara was brought home not for bragging rights, but for the healing of the forgotten, beaten, bruised, abused, used, and shamed women of South Africa.

“You are never alone. Sara is with you always. And through this film, I hope to spread that message wide and far. There are no coincidences, and your existence as a Black Woman is more glorious than you realise,” she said.

Ms Vilakazi plans on working on a film starring Ms Ferrus on how they brought Sarah Baartman home from France.

An Ode to Sara will start at 10.30 am until 12.30pm at the Isibaya Room, first floor at the Artscape Theatre on Saturday, August 23, followed by a discussion, Isidudla: Sara Baartman and Cultural Body Image.

It’s a free event, though there is limited space. To book your spot, RSVP via email at hipzone@mweb.co.za or call  082 490 6652.